AGE EFFECTS IN FACIAL FRACTURE TRAUMA: DISPARITIES IN MULTI-SYSTEM INJURIES IN NON-FALL RELATED TRAUMA

Objectives: This study aims to investigate differential facial fracture patterns and outcomes based upon age effects.

Methods: This is a single-center study of Trauma Registry data, from July 1, 2016, to February 31, 2022. The inclusion criteria was based upon an ICD10 diagnosis of a facial fracture. A linear regression was performed to ascertain the effects of predictor variables on the likelihood that a facial fracture trauma patient would experience various age effects on injury patterns, mortality, and morbidity.

Results: 1575 patients were included in the analysis based on the methods section's requirements. A significant regression equation was found (F(47,1476) = 42.46, p< 0.01), with an R2 of 0.57. Older facial fracture trauma patients were more likely female (β=3.13, p<.01), with fractures to their zygoma (β=2.57, p=.02), increasing AIS facial region scores (β=2.21, p=.03), longer hospital length of stay (β=.07, p=.02), who experienced in an in-hospital mortality (β=10.47, p<.01), with a higher level of morbidity markers, such as discharge to home health care (β=3.45, p<.01), hospice (β=11.42, p<.01), inpatient rehab (β=7.65, p<.01), long term care hospital (β=8.05, p<.01), and skilled nursing facility (β=5.65, p=.01). Younger facial fracture trauma patients were more likely to be African American (β=-5.46, p<.01) or other race (β=-8.66, p<.01) with mandible fracture patterns (β=-3.63, p<.01). The younger patients were likely fully activated (β=-3.10, p<.01) with an increasing shock index ratio (β=-7.36, p<.01), and injury patterns likely caused by assault (β=-12.43, p<.01), four-wheeler/ATV (β=-24.80, p<.01), gunshot (β=-15.18, p<.01), moped (β=-13.50, p<.01), motorcycle (β=-12.31, p<.01), motor vehicle (β=-16.52, p<.01), or pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle (β=-10.69, p=.02).

Conclusion: Age effects impact both facial fracture patterns and outcomes with younger patients being more likely to additionally experience multi-system injuries via non-fall trauma.